An Uncomfortable Embrace

As I nod at Hawks, I feel a surge of gratitude towards him. Without thinking, I reach out and wrap my arms around him, pulling him into a tight hug. Hawks is taken aback at first, but he quickly relaxes into the hug, his arms wrapping around me in return. The café around us melts away, and for a moment, it feels like we're the only two people in the world. But as we stand there, holding each other, I become aware of the curious glances from the other patrons. I try to pull back, but Hawks holds me tight, his face buried in my shoulder. It's not until I hear a loud clearing of a throat that we both realize how awkward the situation has become. We pull back, and I feel my face flush with embarrassment. Hawks looks just as uncomfortable, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for an escape route. The café has fallen silent, with all eyes on us. I recognize some of the faces, but others are strangers. I wonder how many of them are heroes, or villains, or just ordinary people who have stumbled into this strange world. Best Jeanist, who had been sitting at a nearby table, gets up and approaches us. "Uh, is everything okay here?" he asks, his voice laced with amusement. I try to play it cool, but my face is still flushed. "Yeah, everything's fine," I say, trying to laugh off the awkwardness. "Just a little... reunion." Hawks nods in agreement, his eyes still scanning the room. "Yeah, just catching up with an old friend." Best Jeanist raises an eyebrow. "An old friend, huh? You're certainly... close." I feel my face grow even hotter as I realize that Best Jeanist is trying to tease me. I shoot him a look, but he just grins and winks at me. The tension in the room begins to dissipate, and people start to murmur and go back to their conversations. I breathe a sigh of relief, but Hawks' eyes are still serious. "We should get out of here," he says, his voice low. "It's not safe to stay in one place for too long." I nod in agreement, and we quickly pay for our drinks before making a hasty exit from the café. As we step out into the bright sunlight, I feel a sense of relief wash over me. We're safe, for now. But I know that the League could be lurking just around the corner, waiting for their chance to strike.